Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“My point exactly. You need to talk to her.”
“Why do I have to do it?”
“Because she’s not listening to me. She thinks I’m a prude and don’t get it. We had a huge fight about it, but as her friends, it’s our responsibility to look out for her… even if she doesn’t want us to.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, yes, you’re right. I’ll call her.”
“Call me back and tell me what she says.”
I hang up and dial Jolie’s number.
“Hello,” she answers abruptly. “If you’ve called to tell me that Santiago is a bad idea, I don’t want to talk to you.”
I cringe, jeez, she really is set on this. “No,” I snap. “I called to say hello, bitch.”
“Oh. Sorry. I thought Brooke had been in your ear. Hello. ”
I roll my eyes feeling guilty, Brooke has so been in my ear.
“How’s the vacation?”
A big smile crosses my face. “Amazing. ” I don’t know whether to tell her about Nathan and I. No, I’ll wait to tell them in person. “Majorca is beautiful. You need to come here; it really is incredible.”
“I’ll add it to my bucket list.”
“So, what’s this about Brooke and Santiago?” I ask as I sit down on a bench.
“I’ve started seeing him and, oh my God, Eliza, he’s amazing.”
“The porno guy?” I frown.
“Yes, but, you know what? I appreciate his honesty.”
I need to try and be understanding here. “Well… I guess.”
“There’s just this sense of honesty between us, and we really connect on a deeper level.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Brooke is completely right: Jolie’s lost her fucking marbles here. “Okay, so have you been sleeping with him?”
“Yes. Holy fucking shit, he’s so hot I can’t stand it.”
“Right.”
“And the orgasms.”
“Is he filming you?”
“Yes, but he’s not going to show anyone.”
“Jo,” I sigh.
“Don’t ruin this for me.”
“I’m just saying. It’s a bit of a red flag, you know? And, as my friend, I just need to point out the potential dangers here. I’m just trying to be a good friend.”
She exhales heavily. “I know.”
“Look,” I try to think of a solution, “why don’t you just film yourselves having sex on your phone or camera? That way, you have possession of the film.”
“Hmm… maybe.”
“I’m just saying, you don’t know him, and you don’t know what he’s going to do with that footage. Do you really want your future kids seeing mommy getting banged on porn sites in years to come?”
She stays silent, and I know my words are resonating with her.
“Look, I’m all for you and him having a great time. Have fun. Fuck his brains out. But just guard yourself. Guys who pick up girls in bars by showing them footage of themselves fucking other women… they aren’t really husband material.”
“That’s his past, Lize.”
“I know, baby, and it may be all behind him, but as your friend, I have to have this conversation with you.”
“I guess.” She sighs.
“Look, I’ve got a video camera you can borrow. You’ve got a key to my place. Go over and get it. It’s in the top shelf of my linen closet. That way, you own the footage and not him. The risks are lessened. It’s the perfect solution.”
“Really?”
I smile. Nathan is going to freak and throw the camera in the garbage as soon as she returns it, but whatever. “Sure.”
“Thanks, Lize.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“You’re wearing condoms, right?”
“Goodbye, Eliza.” The phone goes dead, and I giggle. That may have been pushing it.
I arrive back at our apartment just after 5:00 p.m. and find Nathan sitting out on the balcony. There’s music playing, and he’s overlooking the ocean with a Corona beer in his hand. He turns and flashes me a slow, sexy smile. The way he looks at me now is so different to how he used to look at me. I can feel his adoration from across the room.
“Hello.” He stands and walks to me.
“Hi.” I kiss him, and he slides his hand down my behind to squeeze it.
“How was the massage?” he asks.
“Heavenly.” I take his beer from him and take a sip. “How was your afternoon?”
“Good.” He smiles. “I got you a present.”
“You did?”
He lifts his shirt to reveal a tattoo of three birds with long wings flying across the side of his ribcage, toward the front of his body. There’s one bird at the back and two at the front. Its red and swollen but its beauty can’t be hidden.
My eyes widen and rise to his.
He points to the two birds at the front. “Those are the two birds in that story of yours.”
I smile goofily. “You and me?”
He kisses me softly. “Uh-huh, that’s us flying into the sunset.”
My mouth falls open. “Nathe,” I whisper in awe. I point to the other swallow at the back. “Who’s this?”
“The life I left behind.”
My eyes rise to his, what does that mean? I stare at him for a moment as I process that statement. Does it bother him?